Rapids 2013 home opener set for March 9 versus Philadelphia

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Tuesday, December 18, 2012) – The Colorado Rapids announced today that the club’s 2013 home opener is set for Saturday, March 9 against the Philadelphia Union at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. The team’s 2013 home debut comes one week after the team’s season opener, which will take place on March 2 at FC Dallas.

Rapids 2013 Season Tickets are on sale now by calling 303-825-GOAL or visiting www.ColoradoRapids.com. A special 5 Game Package is also available, with fans able to choose any five 2013 home matches starting at just $100.

Also announced on Tuesday was the Rapids’ third game of the season, which will take place on Saturday, March 16 at Real Salt Lake. That match, the first of three Subaru Rocky Mountain Cup meetings in 2013, will be RSL’s season opener, and the only meeting between the two clubs at Rio Tinto Stadium next year. The Rapids’ complete 2013 schedule will be announced in January.

Colorado’s home opener against Philadelphia could see an early return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for Rapids’ all-time leading scorer Conor Casey, who was recently selected by the Union in the Re-Entry Draft. The striker, who departed the Rapids by mutual agreement after the 2012 season, has yet to sign a new contract with Philadelphia. In the last meeting between the two clubs, the Rapids took a 2-1 in Philadelphia on March 18, 2012, the only match between the clubs last season.

The Rapids, who are 5-1-0 in the last six season openers, will kick off their 18th season in Major League Soccer on the road for the first time since 2010, when they started the year with a 1-0 win at Chivas USA. Colorado holds an 11-2-4 all-time record in home openers, and is riding a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3) in those matches.

The match at Dallas will be the earliest the Rapids have ever opened an MLS season, ahead of last year’s March 10 start date. The home opener of March 9 is also the earliest in the year that Colorado has ever hosted a match. In the 2013 season, Major League Soccer’s 19 clubs will each play 34 games, 17 at home and 17 away. Western Conference teams, including the Rapids, will play each West opponent three times and each East opponent once.